Article carrier



July 14, 1964 E. L. ARNESON 3,140,797

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed July 9, 1962 V 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 02265072.

y 4, 1964 E. L. ARNESON 3,140,797

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed July 9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR July 14,1964 E. L. ARNESON 3,140,797

ARTICLE CARRIER Filed July 9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E L' ARNESON ARTICLECARRIER Ju y 1964 4 Sheets-S 4 Filed July 1962 INVENTOR' mzwm MM, Mn 1%.mHlHHHHH 1s United States Patent 3,140,797 ARTICLE CARRIER Edwin L.Arneson, Morris, IlL, assignor to Federal Paper Board Company, Inc.,Bogota, N.J., a corporation of New York Filed July 9, 1962, Ser. No.208,465 16 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) This invention relates to articlecarriers and is particularly concerned with improvements in a carrier ofthe type which is formed from sheet material cut and folded so as toprovide a tray-like cellular compartment for the articles and a strongand sturdy center partition and associated handle structure.

The present carrier is of the general type which is characterized byopposed pairs of vertical and flexible side and end walls, by alongitudinal partition and handle structure extending in a verticalplane between the end walls and parallel to the side walls and byflexible cross partition straps which are disposed in longitudinallyspaced, vertical planes and are integrally hinged on vertical fold linesto the respective side walls and to the longitudinal partition andhandle structure. The carrier is formed from a blank which can be cutfrom fiberboard or paperboard stock sheets previously imprinted on oneside thereof only with little waste in cutting. The blank is cut,creased and folded with certain partition forming portions beingadhesively secured so as to provide a collapsed bottom panel having sidepanels foldably connected thereto with inturned cross partition formingstraps hinged at one end to the side wall panels and at the other end toa multiply longitudinal partition and handle structure which isconnected at its opposite ends to end panels hingedly connected to theends of the side panels.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a carrier ofthe type described which is formed from a blank of smaller dimensionsthan heretofore required and which is of strong and rugged constructionso as to adequately support the articles carried therein and towithstand the abuse normally encountered during repeated use in themarketing of articles such as bottled beverages and the like.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a cellularcarrier of the type described in which end wall and longitudinalpartition members at one end of the carrier are derived by folding on adiagonal line portions of the blank which adjoin the handle formingsections thereof, the latter constituting the top portion of thelongitudinal partition and handle structure of the carrier.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the several forms of the carrier which are shownby way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an article carrier having embodiedtherein the principal features of the invention, the carrier being shownin set up empty condition;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken on the line 22 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the inside face of the prepared blank fromwhich the carrier is formed, the view showing glue applied to certainareas of the blank preliminary to executing the first folding operation;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG- URE 4 followingcertain further folding and gluing operations;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the completed carrier in flat, knocked downcondition;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the carrier in setup empty condition;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on the line 88 ofFIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the inside face of the prepared blank fromwhich the carrier of FIGURE 7 is formed, the view showing glue appliedto certain areas of the blank preliminary to executing the first foldingoperations;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIGURE 10 followingcertain further folding and gluing operations; and

FIGURE 12 is a plan view of the completed carrier in fiat knocked downcondition.

Referring first to the form of the carrier which is illustrated inFIGURES 1 to 6, the carrier is fabricated from a generally rectangularpaperboard blank 10 which is cut and creased or scored as shown inFIGURE 4. The blank 11) is divided in the longitudinal direction into abottom forming center section 11 and two wall and partition forming endsections 12 and 13 by parallel transverse score lines 14 and 14 whichare equally spaced from the medial transverse score line 15, the latterdividing the bottom forming section 11 into two equal panels 16 and 16'.Since the blank sections 12 and 13 are divided, to a large extent, intowall and partition forming elements by identical creasing or scoring andcutting lines, only one of these sections will be fully described,corresponding parts of the same relationship on the opposite side of themedial score line 15 will be indicated by the same numerals primed.

The end section 12 of the blank is divided by longitudinally extending,transversely spaced score lines and transversely extending cutting linesinto side wall panel 17, end wall panels 18 and 19 at opposite sidesthereof which are separated therefrom by the parallel score lines 29 and21 extending longitudinally of the blank, and a longitudinal partitionforming panel 22 adjoining the end wall panel 19 and separated therefromby the score line 23 also extending longitudinally of the blank. The endwall panel 19 has a dimension in the direction transversely of the blankwhich corresponds to half the width of the carrier or the dimension inthe longitudinal direction of the blank of one of the bottom wall panels16, while the opposite end wall panel 18 has a dimension transversely ofthe blank which is approximately half of the corresponding dimension ofthe end wall panel 19.

A longitudinal partition and handle forming panel 24 is separated fromthe side wall panel 17 and the adjoining end wall panel 19 by parallel,spaced cutting lines 25, 26 and 27 which have parallel inner portions28, 29 and 3t} inclined in the direction of the end edge 31 of theblank, and terminating at their inner ends at points which are inapproximate alignment transversely of the blank. The cutting line 28terminates at its inner end at the hinge forming score line 20 and thecutting lines 29 and 3t) terminate at the inner ends of longitudinallyextending, hinge forming score lines 32 and 33 which are parallel witheach other and which divide the side wall panel 17 in the transversedirection of the blank into three equal portions. The cutting lines 25,26 and 27 have transversely aligned and transversely extending portions34, 35 and 36 which terminate at the score lines 32, 33 and 21,respectively. The cutting lines 25 and 26 have extended outer portions37 and 38 which parallel the inner portions 29, 35 and 30, 36,respectively, of the cutting lines 26 and 27, which terminate at theouter ends of the longitudinal score lines 33 and 21 and which form withthe cutting lines 26 and 27 cross partition strap members 39 and 40. Thestrap members 39 and 40 are adapted to hinge at one end about the scorelines 32 and 33 and at the other end about the score line 21 2 13 andthe outer portion 41 of the score line 33 when the handle panel 24 ismoved out of the plane of the side wall panel 17. The cutting line 27has an outwardly inclined extension 42 which frees the handle panel 24from the top forming edge of end wall panel 19 leaving the panel 24connected in hinged relation to the outer end of the longitudinalpartition panel 22 by a hinge forming extension 43 of the score line 23.

At one corner of the blank section 12 the longitudinal partition panel22 is separated by a cutting line 44 from a generally triangular shapedcorner panel 45 which is freed at its opposite side by the longitudinalcut 47 extending inwardly of the blank and which is adapted to fold onthe diagonal score line 48, which connects the inner ends of the cuttinglines 44 and 47, into overlying relation with the adjoining portion ofthe handle panel 24 so as to form a reinforcing ply at one end of thehandle structure. The handle panel 24 is provided with a handle edgereinforcing flap 58 which is taken from the outer end margin of theblank by cutting on parallel, longitudinally extending cutting lines 47and 51 and which is adapted to fold about a transverse score line 52connecting the inner ends of the cutting lines 47 and 51. At theopposite corner of the blank section 12 a hinge forming diagonal scoreline 53 and a cutting line 54, together with the cutting line 51, dividefrom the main portion of the blank section a panel 55 which constitutesa combination handle reinforcing and longitudinal partition and end wallmember. The panel 55 is divided into a longitudinal partition and handlereinforcing panel portion 56 and an end wall forming panel portion 57 bya partially cut through score lie 58 which extends from the side edge ofthe blank section 12 to the intersection of the hinge forming diagonalscore line 53 with a partially cut, longitudinally extending score line59, the latter forming an extension of the longitudinal score line 32.The outer end portion of the panel 56 is notched at 60 so that the endthereof forms a hook for engaging in a cooperating slot 61 in the bottomwall 16, 16 when the carrier is set up as shown in FIGURE 2. The handlepanel 24 is provided with a hand hole 62 and the two panels 45 and 55are provided with notches 63 and 64 in the end edge 31 of the blankwhich align with the hand hole .62 when these panels are folded on thehinge lines 48 and 53, respectively. The portion 65 of the panel 24which lies between the score lines 53 and 59, the cutting line 28, andthe end portion 66 of the score line 20 is folded into and becomes partof the end wall when the carton is fabricated as shown in FIGURES 1 and2.

At the other end of the blank the section 13 is cut and scored in asimilar manner with the handle flap 50 being omitted and the cornerpanels 45 and 55 having a dimension in the longitudinal direction of theblank which is smaller than the corresponding dimension of the panels 45and 55. Also, the panel 55 is cut away at the corner, enabling theblanks to be nested with alternate blanks reversed in position forcutting the same from a larger sheet as indicated in FIGURE 4.Otherwise, the panels in the end section 13 of the blank are identicalin construction with the corresponding panels in the opposite endsection 12 of the blank.

The blank 18, when cut and scored or creased, is glued and folded toprovide the carrier which is illustrated in FIGURE 1. In setting up thecarrier from the blank, glue is applied, as shown in FIGURE 4, to thelongitudinal partition and handle panels 22, 24, 45 and 55 in the blanksection 12 and 22, 24, 45 and 55 in the blank section 13. The panels 18,22 and 18, 22' are first folded inwardly about the score lines 20, 21and 2t), 21 into overlying relation with the adjoining end wall 19, 19'and side wall panels 17, 17. Thereafter, the longitudinal partition andhandle reinforcing panels 45, 55 and 45', 55' are folded inwardly aboutthe diagonal score lines 48, 53 and 48', 53' so as to overlie portionsof the panels 17, 18, 22 and 24 and 17, 18', 22' and 24 which brings theblank into the condition shown in FIGURE 5. Glue is then applied to theexposed faces of the handle flap 5t) and the panels 18', 22, 24, 45' and55. The blank is then folded about the medial score line 15 and thehandle cover flap 50 is folded over about the score line 52 onto theoutside face of the handle panel 24 which completes the gluing andfolding of the blank and provides the collapsed carrier as shown inFIGURE 6 which, when opened up, has the form shown in FIGURE 1.

It will be noted that in the completed carrier portions of the end wallsat one end of the carrier and certain longitudinal partition panels arederived from the outside corners of the blank and folded inwardly aboutdiagonal lines into their final position. The arrangement provides fourthicknesses or four plies of material in the areas of the handlestructure where tearing is most likely to occur, that is, in the areasbetween the end of the hand holes 62, 62 and the outside top diagonaledges of the longitudinal center panel which are defined by the foldlines 48, 53 and 48, 53' so that the handle area is adequatelyreinforced.

A modified form of the carrier is illustrated in FIG- URES 7 to 12 ofthe drawing which is fabricated from a generally rectangular blank 70,with the blank being cut and creased or scored as shown in FIGURE 10.The blank 70 is divided in the longitudinal direction in a bottomforming end section 71 and two wall and partition forming sections 72and 73 by parallel, transverse score lines 74 and 75. The bottom formingsection 71 is divided by a transverse score line 76 which is parallel tothe score line 74 into two substantially equal bottom forming halfpanels. The two blank sections 72 and 73 are cut and scored so that theyare to a large extent symmetrical about the transverse score line 75.Only one of these sections will be fully described. Corresponding partsof the same relation on the opposite side of the score line 75 will beindicated by the same numerals primed.

The blank section 72 which extends between the parallel score lines 74and 75 is divided by longitudinally extending, transversely spaced scorelines and transversely extending cutting lines into side wall formingpanel 77, end wall panels 78 and 79 at opposite sides thereof which areseparated therefrom by parallel score lines 80 and 81 extendinglongitudinally of the blank, and a longitudinal partition forming panel83 which is separated from the adjoining end wall panel 79 by alongitudinally extending score line 85.

A longitudinal partition and handle forming panel 86 is separated fromthe side wall panel 77 by parallel spaced cutting lines 87, 88 and 89.The cutting line 89 has an end portion 90 extending across the end wallpanel 79 and terminating at the score line 85 with the panel 86remaining attached to the longitudinal partition panel 83 on theextension 91 of the score lines 85 at the one side of the blank. Thecutting lines 87 and 88 have parallel portions extending between thelongitudinal score lines 92 and 93 which define a cross partition strap94 while the score lines 88 and 89 have parallel portions extendingbetween the longitudinal score line 93 and an end portion 95 of thescore line 81 which define another cross partition strap 96. The scorelines 92 and 93 are spaced an equal distance from the score lines 80 and81 and from each other so as to divide the side wall panel 77 in thetransverse direction of the blank into three equal parts. Thelongitudinal partition and handle panel 86 is freed at the opposite sideof the blank from the end wall panel 78 on the transverse cutting line97 and remains attached in hinged relation to the panel 78 by the smallend extension 98 of the score line 80.

The handle and longitudinal partition panel 86 is scored on the line 99which extends diagonally from the intersection of the cutting line 97with the end of score line 98 to the end of transverse score line 75 anddivides therefrom a panel portion 100 which is separated from theadjoining blank section 73 by the cutting line 97' and the diagonalscore line 99', the latter extending perpendicular to the score line 91and having the inner end portion cut through at 101. The panel portion100 is divided into two panels 102 and 102 by an inverted J-shapedcutting line 193 having its stem aligned with the transverse score line75 and its hooked end terminating at the outer end of the cut 101. Thepanels 1692 and 162, which constitute combination end wall andlongitudinal partition panels, are subdivided by parallel transverse,partly cut, partly scored lines 104 and 164 into end wall panels 105 andN and longitudinal partition panels 106 and 106. The longitudinal scorelines 92 and 92' are extended at 107 and 107 to the intersect-ion of thetransverse score lines 1% and 104' with the diagonal score lines 99 and99 and each of the score lines 164, 107 and 1194-, 197 subtends an angleof 45 degrees with the respective score lines 99 and 99. The panelportions 102 and 102 are adapted to hinge on the diagonal score lines 5'9 and 99' into overlying relation with portions of the side wall panels'77, '77 and handle panels 86, 86' including the end wall reinforcingpanels 108, 108 which are defined by the cutting line 87 and score lines98, 9?, 107 and by the cutting line 37 and score lines 98', 99', 1137'.

At the other side of the blank 70 diagonal score lines 189, 109 extendfrom the end of the score line '75, in right angled relation, to thescore lines 91 and 91 so as to divide from the panels 86 and 86 a handlereinforcing panel portion 110 which is freed from the longitudinalpartition panels 83 and 83' by cutting lines 111 and 111. The panelportion 111) is subdivided into two smaller panels 112 and 112' by aJ-shaped cutting line 113 which has its stern portion aligned with thescore line 75. The score line 109 is cut through at 114 to free thepanel 112 for hinged movement about the score line 199 into overlyingrelation with adjoining portions of the panel 86. The handle panels 86and 36' are provided with hand holes 115 and 115' and the J-shapedcutting lines 103 and 113 provide the panels 106 and 112 with innerportions 116 and 117 which reinforce the handle in the areas between theends of the hand holes 115 and 115 and the top edge forming fold line'75.

The blank section 73 is provided with a glue flap 118 for connectionwith the bottom wall forming panel 71 which extends along the end edgeof the blank, which glue flap is separated from the side wall formingpanel 77 by a transverse score line 119.

The blank 7 0, when out and scored or creased, is glued and folded toprovide the carrier which is illustrated in FIGURE 7. In setting up thecarrier from the blank, glue is applied, as shown in FIGURE 10, to thelongitudinal partition panels 83, 33', the end wall panels 195, 105, theend wall reinforcing panels 168, 1%, the handle panels 86, 86', and thehandle reinforcing panels 112, 112. The panels 83, 83 and 73, 73 arefirst folded inwardly about the score lines 85, 35 and Stl, 80' intooverlying relation with adjacent portions of the end wall panels '79,79' and the side Wall panels 77, 77'. The end wall and longitudinalpartition panels 102 and 102' are folded inwardly about the diagonallines 99 and 99' so as to overlie the end wall reinforcing panels 198,1%, and portions of the handle panels 86, 86'. The handle reinforcingpanels 112 and 112' are folded inwardly about the diagonal score lines109 and 109 and the bottom wall 71 is folded on the score line 76. Thisbrings the blank into the condition shown in FIGURE 11. Glue is thenapplied to the exposed faces of the panels 112, 86, 83' and 106' asshown or to the corresponding panels on the opposite side of the medialscore line 75. The blank is then folded about the medial score line 75which completes the gluing and folding of the blank and provides thecollapsed carrier as shown in FIGURE 12 which, when opened up, has theform shown in FIGURE 7.

While both forms of the carrier which have been illustrated in thedrawings are designed for a six bottle package, the invention may bereadily incorporated in a carrier for a larger number of bottles. Allthat is required to adapt the invention to an eight bottle package, forexample, is to add an additional pair of bottle receiving cells in thecenter of the carrier. However, when the carrier is designed for alarger number of bottles, it is desirable to provide additionalreinforcement for the handle panels which, preferably, is in the form ofa separate insert panel of sufficient size to extend around the handhole openings and having a depth which will bring the lower margin atleast to the bottom of the hinge connection of the cross straps with thelongitudinal partition so as to reinforce these connections. Thereinforcing insert is, of course, glued to the handle and partitionforming panels and enclosed between the same.

While particular materials and specific details of construction havebeen referred to in describing the several forms of the carrier whichare illustrated, it will be understood that other materials andequivalent details of construction may be resorted to within the spiritof the invention.

I claim:

1. A cellular article carrier formed from a flexible paperboard blankwhich is cut and scored to provide, when set up, a foldable bottom wall,upstanding side walls hinged to the side edges of the bottom wall, endwalls hinged to opposite end edges of the side walls, a multi-plylongitudinal partition and handle structure hinged at its opposite endsto the end walls and cell defining cross strap members connected onvertical hinge lines at opposite ends thereof to the side walls and tosaid longitudinal partition and handle structure, said longitudinalpartition and handle structure including a pair of outer partition andhandle forming panels which extend downwardly from a top edge and have ahinged connection with the cross strap members, and a pair of inner handle reinforcing panels at each end of said longitudinal partition andhandle structure which are folded downwardly and inwardly on diagonalfold lines defining downwardly and outwardly inclined top edge portionsof said handle structure and which reinforcing panels are sandwichedbetween the outer partition and handle forming panels and connected tothe end walls.

2. A cellular article carrier as recited in claim 1, and at least one ofsaid handle reinforcing panels extending a substantial distance in thedirection of the bottom wall and below the hinged connection of thecross strap members with said outer longitudinal partition and handleforming panels.

3. A cellular article carrier formed from a flexible paperboard blankwhich is cut and scored to provide, when set up, a foldable bottom wall,upstanding side walls hinged to the side edges of the bottom wall, endwalls hinged to opposite end edges of the side Walls, a longitudinalpartition and handle structure hinged at its opposite ends to the endwalls and cell defining cross strap members hinged at their oppositeends to the side walls and to said longitudinal partition and handlestructure, said longitudinal partition and handle structure including apair of outer partition and handle forming panels which extenddownwardly from a top edge to a hinged connection with the cross strapmembers, a pair of inner handle reinforcing panels at each end of saidlongitudinal partition and handle structure which are folded downwardlyand inwardly on diagonal fold lines defining outwardly and downwardlyinclined end extensions of said top edge, each pair of said inner handlereinforcing panels being secured in face engaging relation between theouter partition and handle forming panels and said inner handlereinforcing panels being hinged to the end wall forming panels.

4. A cellular article carrier as recited in claim 3, and one of saidhandle reinforcing panels at one end of said 7 longitudinal partitionand handle structure extending approximately to the carrier bottom wall.

5. An article carrier formed from a paperboard blank which is cut andscored to provide in set-up article receiving condition a foldablebottom wall, side walls extending upwardly of the side edges of thebottom wall, end walls extending inwardly of the side edges of the sidewalls, a center longitudinal partition and handle structure connected atits opposite ends to the end walls, said longitudinal partition andhandle structure comprising a pair of outer panels having hingedconnections at their lower margins with vertically disposed inclinedcross straps extending from the side walls and dividing the carrier intocells on each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure,said outer panels being hinged at one end of the carrier to the upperends of a pair of inner longitudinal partition panels extending inwardlyof a hinged connection with the adjacent end wall and at the oppositeend of the carrier to a pair of end wall reinforcing panels which extenddownwardly from inclined top end wall edge forming folds, a pair ofinner longitudinal partition reinforcing panels hingedly connected tothe end walls at the last mentioned end of the carrier and foldeddownwardly from an upwardly inclined top edge fold which connects saidpanels with the outer panels of said longitudinal partition and handleforming structure.

6. An article carrier as recited in claim 5, and said inner longitudinalpartition reinforcing panels extending inwardly of the upper ends of theinclined top edge folds so as to reinforce the upper grip formingportion of the handle structure.

7. An article carrier formed from a paperboard blank which is cut andscored to provide in set-up article receiving condition a foldablebottom wall, side walls extending upwardly of the side edges of thebottom wall, end walls extending inwardly of the side edges of the sidewalls, a center longitudinal partition and handle structure connected atits opposite ends to the end walls, said longitudinal partition andhandle structure comprising a pair of outer panels having hingedconnections at their lower margins with vertically disposed,longitudinally spaced cross straps which are hinged at their outer endsto side walls and which divide the carrier into a plurality of cells oneach side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure, said outerpanels being hinged at one end of the carrier to the upper ends of apair of inner longitudinal partition panels extending inwardly of ahinged connection with the adjacent end wall and at the opposite end ofthe carrier to a pair of end wall reinforcing panels which extenddownwardly from inclined top end wall edge forming folds, a pair ofinner longitudinal partition reinforcing panels integrally hinged to theend walls at the last mentioned end of the carrier and folded downwardlyfrom an upwardly inclined top edge fold which connects said panels withthe outer panels of said longitudinal partition and handle formingstructure with one of said inner longitudinal partition reinforcingpanels extending to the bottom wall and having an end hook formation forengaging in a slot in the bottom wall so as to connect the same with thebottom wall.

8. An article carrier formed from a paperboard blank which is cut andscored to provide in set-up article receiving condition a foldablebottom wall, side walls extending upwardly of the side edges of thebottom wall, end walls extending inwardly of the side edges of the sidewalls, a center longitudinal partition and handle structure connected atits opposite ends to the end walls, said longitudinal partition andhandle structure comprising a pair of outer panels having connections attheir lower margins with integrally hinged cross straps extending fromthe ,side walls and dividing the carrier into cells on each side of thelongitudinal partition and handle structure, said outer panels beingintegrally hinged at one end of the carrier to the upper ends of a pairof inner longitudinal partition panels extending inwardly of a hingedconnection with the adjacent end wall and having their upper endportions secured between said outer panels and said outer panels beingintegrally hinged at the opposite end of the carrier to a pair ofgenerally triangular end Wall reinforcing panels which extend downwardlyfrom an integrally hinged connection with the top edge of a pair of endwall panels and which are also integrally hinged to a second pair of endwall panels which are hinged to the side walls, a pair of innerlongitudinal partition reinforcing panels hingedly connected to thefirst mentioned pair of end wall panels and folded downwardly from anupwardly inclined top edge fold which integrally connects said innerpanels with the outer panels of said longitudinal partition and handleforming struc ture.

9. An article carrier formed from a paperboard blank which is cut andscored to provide in setup article receiving condition a foldable bottomwall, side walls extending upwardly of the side edges of the bottomwall, end walls extending inwardly of the side edges of the side walls,a center longitudinal partition and handle structure connected at itsopposite ends to the end walls, said longitudinal partition and handlestructure comprising a pair of outer panels having hinged connections attheir lower margins with cross straps extending from the side walls anddividing the carrier into cells on each side of the longitudinalpartition and handle structure, said outer panels being hinged at oneend of the carrier to the upper ends of a pair of inner longitudinalpartition panels which extend inwardly of a hinged connection with theadjacent end wall and at the opposite end of the carrier to a pair ofinner end wall reinforcing panels which extend downwardly from inclinedtop end Wall edges and a pair of longitudinal partition and end wallforming panels hingedly connected to said inner end wall reinforcingpanels along said inclined top end wall edges and folded downwardly soas to connect in overlapping relation with a pair of end wall formingpanels which are integrally hinged to the side walls.

10. An article carrier formed from a paperboard blank which is cut andscored to provide in set-up article receiving condition a foldablebottom wall, side Walls extending upwardly of the side edges of thebottom wall, end walls extending inwardly of the end edges of the sidewalls, a center longitudinal partition and handle structure connected atits opposite ends to the end walls, said longitudinal partition andhandle structure comprising a pair of outer panels having hingedconnections at their lower margins with vertically disposed,longitudinally spaced cross straps which are hinged at their outer endsto the side walls and which divide the carrier into a plurality of cellson each side of the longitudinal partition and handle structure, saidouter panels being hinged at one end of the carrier to the upper ends ofa pair of inner longitudinal partition panels extending inwardly of ahinged connection with the adjacent end wall and said outer panels beinghinged at the opposite end of the carrier to a pair of end wallreinforcing panels which extend downwardly from inclined top end walledge forming folds which connect the end wall reinforcing panels with apair of upper end wall panels, and a pair of inner longitudinalpartition reinforcing panels integrally hinged to said pair of end wallpanels and sandwiched between the outer panels of said longitudinalpartition and handle structure, said pair of upper end wall panels beinghingedly connected to the upper ends of a pair of lower end wall panelswhich are hinged to the ends of the side walls.

11. An article carrier as recited in claim 10, and said upper end wallpanels having portions which overlap and are secured to portions of saidlower end wall panels.

12. An article carrier as recited in claim 10, and said upper end wallpanels being connected to the upper ends of said lower end wall panelson vertical hinge lines which are aligned with the vertical hinge linesof the lower end wall panel connections with the side walls.

13. A cellular article carrier formed from a flexible paperboard blankwhich is cut and scored to provide, when set up, a foldable bottom wall,upstanding side walls hinged to the side edges of the bottom wall, endwalls hinged to opposite end edges of the side walls, a longitudinalpartition and handle structure hinged at its opposite ends to the endwalls and cell defining cross strap members connected on vertical hingelines at opposite ends thereof to the side walls and to saidlongitudinal partition and handle structure, said longitudinal partitionand handle structure including a pair of outer partition and handleforming panels which extend downwardly from a top edge and are hinged tothe cross strap members, and inner longitudinal partition panels whichextend inwardly from a hinged connection with the end walls, one of saidend walls having inner and outer top panel forming portions which areconnected on vertical hinge lines to the outer partition and handleforming panels and the inner longitudinal partition panels,respectively, said end wall top panels being hingedly connected alongthe top edges of the end wall and said inner end wall top panels havinghinged connections with lower end wall panel forming portions which arehinged to the end edges of the side walls with their uppermost marginssecured to said end wall top panel portions.

14. A flexible paperboard blank cut and scored to divide the same into aplurality of panels which, when folded and set up, provide a cellulararticle carrier, said blank being divided by parallel score lines into abottom wall forming section and adjoining side wall and partition andhandle forming sections, each of said last mentioned blank sectionsbeing divided by cutting lines and binge forming score lines into a sidewall panel, a handle and partition panel, a pair of connecting crossstraps between the side Wall panel and the handle and partition paneland end wall panels at opposite ends of the side wall panel and a pairof combination end Wall and longitudinal partition panels which aretaken from the area of the blank adjoining one end of the handle andpartition panels and which are separated from the handle and partitionpanels by hinge forming score lines extending from the score linesdefining the end edges of the side Wall panels diagonally to the end ofthe transverse score line separating the two side wall and partition andhandle forming sections of the blank so that said combination panels maybe folded on the diagonal score lines into overlying relation withportions of the adjacent side wall panels, and said combination panelsbeing subdivided by a score line extending normal to an end edge of thehandle and partition panel into an end wall panel and a longitudinalpartition panel.

15. A flexible paperboard blank as recited in claim 14. and a pair ofhandle reinforcing panels taken from the area of the blank adjoining thehandle and partition panels at the opposite ends of said panels whichreinforcing panels are separated from the handle and partition panels byhinge forming diagonal score lines extending from the score linesdefining the outer edges of the adjacent end wall panels to the end ofthe transverse score line separating the side wall and partition andhandle forming sections of the blank.

16. A flexible paperboard blank cut and scored to divide the same into aplurality of panels which, when folded and set up, provide a cellulararticle carrier, said blank being divided by parallel score lines into abottom wall forming section and two side wall and partition and handleforming sections, each of said last mentioned blank sections beingdivided by cutting lines and hinge forming score lines into a side wallpanel, a handle and partition panel, a pair of connecting cross strapsbetween the side wall panel and the handle and partition panel, end wallpanels at opposite ends of the side wall panel and a combination endwall and longitudinal partition panel which is taken from the areaadjoining one end of the handle and partition panel and which isseparated from said handle and partition panel by a hinge forming scoreline extending from the score line defining the end edge of the sideWall panel diagonally in the direction of the top edge of the handle andpartition panel so that said combination panel may be folded on saiddiagonal score line into overlying relation with portions of theadjacent side wall, and said combination panel being subdivided by ascore line extending normal to an end edge of the handle and partitionpanel into an end Wall panel and a longitudinal partition panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,587,808 Arneson Mar. 4, 1952 2,616,611 Arneson Nov. 4, 1952 2,741,399Arneson Apr. 10, 1956 2,755,960 Kramer July 24, 1956

1. A CELLULAR ARTICLE CARRIER FORMED FROM A FLEXIBLE PAPERBOARD BLANKWHICH IS CUT AND SCORED TO PROVIDE, WHEN SET UP, A FOLDABLE BOTTOM WALL,UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS HINGED TO THE SIDE EDGES OF THE BOTTOM WALL, ENDWALLS HINGED TO OPPOSITE END EDGES OF THE SIDE WALLS, A MULTI-PLYLONGITUDINAL PORTITION AND HANDLE STRUCTURE HINGED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDSTO THE END WALLS AND CELL DEFINING CROSS STRAP MEMBERS CONNECTED ONVERTICAL HINGE LINES AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO THE SIDE WALLS AND TOSAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION AND HANDLE STRUCTURE, SAID LONGITUDINALPARTITION AND HANDLE STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PAIR OF OUTER PARTITION ANDHANDLE FORMING PANELS WHICH EXTEND DOWNWARDLY FROM A TOP EDGE AND HAVE AHINGED CONNECTION WITH THE CROSS STRAP MEMBERS, AND A PAIR OF INNERHANDLE REINFORCING PANELS OF EACH END OF SAID LONGITUDINAL PARTITION ANDHANDLE STRUCTURE WHICH ARE FOLDED DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY ON DIAGONALFOLD LINES DEFINING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY INCLINED TOP EDGE PORTIONSOF SAID HANDLE STRUCTURE AND WHICH REINFORCING PANELS ARE SANDWICHEDBETWEEN THE OUTER PARTITION AND HANDLE FORMING PANELS AND CONNECTED TOTHE END WALLS